Duterte: Espenido to be reassigned to Iloilo

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced that Ozamiz City police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido will be assigned to Iloilo City next.

“Your next assignment is Iloilo,” he said.

“Espenido, where are you? Diyan ka lang, okay lang. I will ask you again. You asked for the assignment sa Leyte. Namatay ang mayor doon. You asked for another assignment sa Ozamiz, namatay ang mayor doon, si Parojinog,” he added.

Duterte then asked Espenido if Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will also face the same fate.

“Ngayon, gusto mo sa Iloilo, kasi si [Jed Patrick] Mabilog has been identified as a protector. Mayor. Mabuhay kaya siya?" he said.

“Gusto ko lang tanungin kasi ako naman ang pagbibintangan. Ikaw nga ang nagbaril diyan tapos ako ang napa-publish kung saan-saan eh. Pero if you do the country a favor, I will support you. And we all… then we’ll all go to jail, do not worry,” he said.

But Duterte also reminded Espenido to follow the rules of engagement in the performance of duty, which he pointed out that the police learned in the Philippine National Police.

“Murder and homicide or whatever—unlawful killing—is not allowed. But in the performance of your duty, tell your men that whenever their life is in danger and they are in the actual performance of a duty, your duty requires you to overcome the resistance of the person you are arresting,” he said.

Duterte made the announcement after Espenido was conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu award during the National Heroes Day commemoration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Asked by reporters about his marching orders to Espenido, Duterte replied: “He is a dedicated man. He knows his law. So, he should replicate his exploits in other parts of the country. If he wants to be assigned in Iloilo, I will assign him there.”

Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed inside his cell while CIDG operatives were serving him a search warrant. The CIDG is claiming Espinosa was killed in a shootout when he pulled a gun on them.

A number of policemen, including Superintendent Marvin Marcos, are facing homicide charges in connection with his killing and that of another inmate, drug suspect Raul Yap.

Espenido was reassigned to Ozamiz City after the Espinosa-Yap killings. After only a few months, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife, brother, nephew and twelve others were killed in another CIDG operation to serve search warrants for illegal firearms in Ozamiz.

Duterte has named Espinosa, Parojinog, and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as among the local officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News